Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services
Nancy Montanez Johner was appointed by President George W. Bush and sworn in as USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services (FNCS) on August 21, 2006. Before her appointment, she served as Director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
As Under Secretary, Ms. Johner is responsible for the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs with a combined budget of $58 billion for the Food and Nutrition Service and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. FNCS programs provide nutrition assistance, dietary guidance, nutrition policy coordination, nutrition education and work to end hunger in the United States. FNCS programs touch the lives of one in every five Americans through the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and the Commodity Distribution Programs.
In March 2004, Ms. Johner was appointed by former Governor Mike Johanns to serve as the Director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. As Director, she oversaw nearly 5,000 employees responsible for the Administration of the Food Stamp Program, Medicaid, Child Welfare, Aid to Dependent Children and Child Support Enforcement, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Ms. Johner has over a decade of experience in the management and administration of programs serving the needs of low-income individuals, families and children.
A native of Scottsbluff, NE, Ms. Johner received a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
